Tummy Tuck FAQs Dallas

Dallas tummy tuck specialist Dr. Steve Byrd has been performing this procedure for many years. Here, he provides answers to some of his patients’ most common questions.

If you’re interested in a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, area but have questions, allow Dr. Byrd to help you understand your options. Read on, or come in to meet with Dr. Byrd in our office on North Central Expressway near North Park Mall. Request $100 off your consultation online, or give us a call at (214) 821-9662 to schedule an appointment.

What determines whether a tummy tuck is necessary or whether liposuction alone can work for me?

A consultation is necessary to determine the answer to this question. Generally if there is significant skin laxity or muscle separation centrally, liposuction alone will not help you achieve the goal of a smooth abdomen.

Although I am not planning to have another baby at this time, I have not ruled out that possibility. Should I wait to have a tummy tuck?

Yes. If you are intending to have another child, absolutely do that prior to having a tummy tuck.

How soon after having a baby is it advisable to have a tummy tuck?

If you have had your last child and want to have the surgery as soon as you can, follow these guidelines:

Wait until 6 months post-delivery.

Lose all or as much of the baby weight as you can.

Achieve a weight that you can maintain consistently.

I’m motivated, exercising, and dieting and have lost weight, but I’m not seeing a response in my body any longer. Do you have suggestions for me to accomplish further weight loss? Should I have a tummy tuck?

First, consider a diet free of simple carbohydrates if you have not already done so. The South Beach Diet™ is an example of such a diet.

Second, come in for a consultation. Sometimes a patient’s body type may lend itself to moving forward with surgery at this point. At the very least, a consult often inspires and motivates patients. Sometimes we discover that the patient’s metabolism has changed due to hormonal issues.

How much pain will I have following a tummy tuck? How long will the pain persist?

Even though tummy tuck has the reputation of being one of the more painful procedures in cosmetic surgery, breakthrough medications given during surgery have virtually eliminated that concern. A relatively new, long-acting injectable pain medication has provided long-term (3 days) pain control for recent patients. These patients haven’t even required traditional, oral pain medications until the fourth day after surgery, and then just to get comfortable for a night’s sleep.

When may I go home following a tummy tuck?

We have patients spend a night in the overnight facility (with nurses on the floor and a sitter, friend, or family member in the room). Patients go home the following morning.

After surgery, do I need someone to stay with me and help me once I go home?

We strongly urge you to have someone help you the first few days after the surgery. If you have people who are normally dependent on you, such as children or a disabled person, you may need more assistance during this time. You will need someone to drive you home, assistance getting in and out of bed, help walking to the bathroom, and a driver to get you back to the office for drain and suture removal the first week.

How long after surgery before I like the way I look?

You will see that the loose skin is gone immediately after surgery. Most patients are satisfied with the result at about 6 to 8 weeks after surgery, but only about half of your results are visible at the 3-month mark. The final results will appear about 9 months to 1 year after surgery.

I have heard there are variations in the outcome of scarring. What makes a scar better or worse?

I close all incisions using the same technique. Scar length and shape may vary according to individual body shapes, and there is indeed variation in healing from patient to patient. Genetics play the largest role in that variation. We encourage patients to use good scar therapy with silicone gel strips taped in place for 6 to 8 weeks following surgery.

Can you customize my scar location?

I can customize the scar location to some degree. I talk with the patient and try to keep the scar in their specified location if at all possible. The goal is for the scar to be in a place that can be hidden by undergarments and swimwear.

Can I have liposuction of another area at the same time as a tummy tuck?

Yes, and it is often advisable to perform liposuction on the lower back/upper buttock to help narrow the waistline.

I have heard of the “mommy makeover,” and I think it’s a combination of tummy tuck and breast augmentation/breast lift. Do you do this combined procedure? Does this make my recovery longer or more difficult?

This phrase was coined in the 1990s and still is a good description of the combined abdominoplasty, liposuction, and breast lift or breast augmentation. I do this combined procedure often. The recovery time is the same and the combination does not increase pain or difficulty. Those who have a mommy makeover are among my happiest patients.